Innovation in drug discovery the driver for pharma, notes GlobalData

Data analysis released by GlobalData has revealed that innovation in drug discovery is a driver for the pharmaceutical industry now that the age of the blockbuster appears to be at an end and research and development spending is on the up.

Drug discovery

“Specialisation and treatment of unmet need is the new paradigm, with companies finding the greatest success in therapy area focus and development of novel therapies for niche diseases,” explained Jamie Goodman, senior healthcare analyst at GlobalData. “The market landscape has become broader, deeper and far more intricate in recent years, and is set to continue. Access to detailed drug insight, the milestones, decisions and events in a drug’s lifetime are more vital than ever in understanding the dynamics of the industry and drivers of success.”

Based on GlobalData’s Pharmaceutical Products Database, it was deemed that pursuit of novel treatment mechanisms and a drive towards personalised medicine has created a diverse drug pipeline with the successful launch and promising initial outcomes of the first immune-oncology products. An explosion in the pipeline is occurring with development programmes looking to compete with the pioneering checkpoint inhibitors.

Additionally, the adaptation of the regulatory environment to the needs of the drug developer and patient has enabled companies to provide alternative pathways to approval and influencing market access strategies. An increase in review designations has been witnessed, contributing to a pipeline focused on the treatment of unmet needs.

“Companies are recognising that innovation is more necessary than ever in ensuring return on investment,” concluded Goodman. “Niche drug development and perusal of alternative pathways and regulatory designations have proved popular strategies, with over 2,100 products having been awarded a review designation by the US FDA, and over 2,000 unique indications with at least one drug in development. The explosion of the immune-oncology pipeline has demonstrated that innovative drug design is the key to winning big.”

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